No tour to Bangladesh without MOU deal, reiterates Smith

Australia captain Steve Smith has once again stressed that this month's scheduled tour of Bangladesh will only go ahead if an agreement on a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is reached. Australia are scheduled to play a two-Test away series against the Asian nation, startingAugust 22.

"I'd like to [play], but as we've said for a long time we need to get the deal done first," Smith told Fox Sports on Tuesday (August 1) about the prospects of the impending tour going ahead as per schedule.

The Australia A side had pulled out of the ongoing South Africa tour, also involving India A, and Smith felt it would be unfair on them if the national Test side went ahead to Bangladesh despite there being no resolution to the ongoing pay dispute. "I don't think it would be fair for us to go away after the (Australia) A guys were very strong on not going away on their tour, for us to then go away I don't think that's fair."

Cricket Australia and the Australian Cricketers' Association are believed to be intensely negotiating a deal and while both sides have indicated that some progress is being made on the matter, an outcome is yet to be reached. However, Smith remained hopeful of the two parties reaching to an agreement soon, stating that "some really good progress" has been made and "some key elements" in the negotiations were left to be finalised.

"CA know this, they've been told this," Smith added. "I told (CA's Executive General Manager Team Performance) Pat Howard personally that this was how things were going to be if there wasn't a deal done."

Smith also shed light on the difficulties he's faced all through, having to take a stand on the behalf of the players while also ensuring healthy relationship with the board and the management. "It's had some difficult moments," Smith said. "When this is all over with, I have to deal with Pat Howard, I have to deal with the (CA) Board and speak to James Sutherland so I have to be careful with what sort of lines I tread. Some guys have been really vocal on social media and I think the way for me to lead in this dispute is to be able to talk to guys behind the scenes that are at the table and doing the job.

"Talking to the two parties and trying to figure out what each of them want and the best way forward. I've been talking to Alistair (Nicholson, ACA Chief Executive) and Pat Howard on the phone most days so it's been a long process and hopefully it comes to a close soon."